"World News Tonight" Now Averaging Nearly a Half Million More Viewers Per Night, Season to Date Compared to Same Time Last Season

"World News Tonight" Closes the Season Gap with "NBC Nightly News" in Total Viewers (-48%), Adults 25-54 (-86%) and Adults 18-49 (-52%)

ABC News' "World News Tonight with David Muir" averaged 9.032 million Total Viewers, 2.242 million Adults 25-54 and 1.475 million Adults 18-49 during the week of February 9, 2015, based on Live +Same Day Data from Nielsen Media Research.

"World News Tonight" slashed its year-to-year gaps with "NBC Nightly News" across all key target demos: Total Viewers (-86% - 398,000 vs. 2.770 million), Adults 25-54 (-94% - 50,000 vs. 790,000) and Adults 18-49 (-82% - 139,000 vs. 754,000).

"World News Tonight" increased from the year-ago week in Total Viewers (+2% - 9.032 million vs. 8.839 million on w/o 2/10/14). In fact, "World News Tonight" finished as the only evening newscast to grow year to year compared to "CBS Evening News" (-4%) and "NBC Nightly News" (-19%).

"World News Tonight" also decreased its week-to-week margins with "NBC Nightly News" by double digits in Total Viewers (-44% - 398,000 vs. 717,000), Adults 25-54 (-74% - 50,000 vs. 189,000) and Adults 18-49 (-49% - 139,000 vs. 273,000). In fact, "World News Tonight" turned in its closest performances with the NBC newscast in both key adult demos in 6 weeks - since w/o 12/29/14.

On Wednesday (2/11/15), "World News Tonight" ranked No. 1, leading "NBC Nightly News" in Total Viewers (+95,000 - 9.257 million vs. 9.162 million) and Adults 25-54 (+1,000 - 2.312 million vs. 2.311 million). In addition, "World News Tonight" ranked No. 1 on Thursday (2/12/15), defeating the NBC program in Adults 25-54 (+112,000 - 2.365 million vs. 2.253 million).

"World News Tonight" is averaging 446,000 more viewers, season to date, compared to the same time frame last season (8.786 million vs. 8.340 million). "World News Tonight" is improving versus the same point last season in Total Viewers (+5%) and Adults 25-54 (+2%). "World News Tonight" is averaging its largest overall viewer audience in 7 years and strongest in the key adult news demo in 4 years - since the 2007-08 and the 2010-11 seasons, respectively. In addition, "World News Tonight" is improving the most in Total Viewers and Adults 25-54 compared to "CBS Evening News" (+1%/-2%) and "NBC Nightly News" (-1%/-8%).

Season to date, "World News Tonight" has slashed nearly all of its season margin with "NBC Nightly News" in Adults 25-54 (-86% - 38,000 vs. 277,000), delivering its closest news demo performance with the NBC program in 7 years - since the 2007-08 season. In addition, "World News Tonight" cut its season gaps with "NBC Nightly News" by 48% in Total Viewers (588,000 vs. 1.139 million) and by 52% in Adults 18-49 (147,000 vs. 307,000) to its closest performances in 7 years in both measures - since the 2007-08 season.

For the week, "World News Tonight" outperformed the "CBS Evening News" by 1.404 million Total Viewers, by 456,000 Adults 25-54 and by 269,000 Adults 18-49.

ABC "World News Tonight with David Muir" airs at 6:30 p.m., ET on the ABC Television Network. Almin Karamehmedovic is the executive producer of the broadcast. Follow David Muir and the "World News Tonight" team online: @DavidMuir; @WNTonight; facebook.com/DavidMuirABC; facebook.com/WorldNewsTonight.

EVENING NEWS (Week of February 9, 2015)

TOTAL VIEWERS ADULTS 25-54 ADULTS 18-49 HOUSEHOLDS

Source: The Nielsen Company, NTI Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49 Live + SD weeks of 2/9/15, 2/2/15 and 2/10/14. Most Current: 2014-2015 Season (9/22/14 - 2/15/15) and 2013-2014 Season (9/23/13 - 2/16/14). Averages based on regular telecasts.

- ABC -